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Life Sciences

Science that works for life

Interested in science and how you could use science in a job? Then think about a career in Life Science.

Life Science is the part of science that studies anything that is living, such as people, animals, plants, and microorganisms.

In a life sciences job you might be developing a cure for cancer, inventing new technology to save people’s lives, or researching an antidote to an infectious disease. You could even be working in space, or on projects to develop life support systems so that humans can live beyond earth.

Wales is at the cutting edge of life sciences research and development. The Welsh Government has invested £100 million pounds to grow Life Sciences within Wales (Life Sciences Hub Wales, 2015). So although the life science industry is small in Wales at the moment, it is likely to continue to make an impact in Wales and around the world.

34,000 new workers may be needed in Life Sciences in the UK by 2020 (Cogent Skills, 2013)

30% of workers in Life Sciences are over 50, so there will be a demand for new recruits(Welsh Government, 2015)

7.5% of all university students in Wales are studying Life Sciences. (Welsh Government, 2014)

£100 million is the amount the Welsh Government is investing in growing Life Sciences in Wales (Life Sciences Hub Wales, 2015)

Where you could work in a life sciences job:

60%NHS

22%Industry

18% Research

More than half of life sciences jobs in the UK are in the NHS

Source: Cogent Skills, 2013

1% of the total workforce in Wales is employed in Life Sciences (Welsh Government, 2014)

Getting in

To get into a career in Life Sciences you would usually need GCSE’s, including science subjects.

Examples of the training you could do on the job or as an apprentice are:

NVQ/QCF Diploma Level 2 and 3 in Clinical Healthcare Support

NVQ/QCF Diploma Level 3 in Laboratory Science

To find an apprenticeship or job that might lead to an apprenticeship, you can start by looking at NHS jobs.

There are life sciences companies all over Wales too! These companies often recruit on their own websites. To find them you can search online or use local business directories. You might like to contact the companies in our Meet the employers section.

Get networking!

Networking and word of mouth are particularly important in the life sciences sector. Get to know other people and businesses, face-to-face, and through social media. Build your network of contacts to sell yourself and your ideas.